As it turns out we have precedence on our side as well as the state law in regards to the placement of special elections on the ballot. A lot of misinformation is being spread in large part thrugh the MSM here in Mississippi.
For those of you unaware of the situation read this post from Kos a few day ago. Also read this one from Hunter. Top it off with this one from Adam B.
Cross Posted at Cotton Mouth
An opinion piece by Geoff Pender in the Sun Herald misses the mark on the controversy surrounding the attempts by Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann to move the Musgrove - Wicker race to the bottom of the ballot. While Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Tomie Green has ordered a revised ballot, the decision will likely be overturned in favor of the Secretary of State. Pender is apparently a big reader of Y'all Politics and quoted them on the chances of this decision being overturned by the Chamber of Commerce Supreme Court.
Compounding Musgrove's problems on this, Y'all says, is the fact that Barbour has a record of "stomping" Musgrove at the polls and in court and that the judge who ruled in Musgrove's favor at the lower court level "has been overturned more times than a pancake at IHOP."
Pender wrongly asserts that Musgrove is wasting his time and energy fighting this issue. Again he quotes his source Y'all Politics.
I just read an entry on the Y'all Politics blog that sums up my consternation: "Why would Ronnie Musgrove seem poised to die on this particular hill of 'ballot placement'? Who really cares about this? For a candidate that wanted to talk about earmarks and the price of gasoline, his campaign has now irrevocably shifted the news cycle for at least the next 14 days over legal wranglings over ballot placement."
Pender makes light of the idea that being placed at the bottom of the ballot will effect turnout. Why then is the appeal to the Supreme Court being made if it is baseless worry. There will be a major influx of new voters, many of who are coming primarily to vote for Obama. By moving this race to the bottom, the fact is that a percentage of those voters will not find the Musgrove Wicker race. Whatever that percentage is might be enough to keep Ronnie Musgrove at bay.
Musgrove has his knickers in a bunch that the race between him and Wicker will appear - as special elections typically do - near the end of a long ballot in November. He fears "ballot drop-off," that people will get tired of voting before they get to the end or something.
According to Pender special elections have always been place at the bottom of the ballot. The Governor has even made the erroneous claim that Musgrove approved a 2002 ballot that had the special elections at the bottom of the ballot. While it is true there were special elections at the bottom of the 2002 ballot, they were district races which state law orders to be placed at the bottom of the ballot. Also on the ballot in 2002 was the special election for the Court of Appeals, which believe it or not, was placed near the top, in the same section as the other elections for the Court of Appeals.
AG Jim Hood has both state law as well as precedence on his side. Will that be enough to sway the Chamber of Commerce Supreme Court? I am not holding my breath.
Race Update:
Polls show this is going to be a very close race. One thing is for certain and that is that we are sure to see an increase in voter turnout. How much of an increase in turnout will more than likely decide this race. If the Democratic primary is any kind of indicator for Democratic turnout in November, we are going to see a substantial increase in the black vote and the youth vote. The 18-29 vote tripled in total, counting both primaries, in 2008 when compared to 2000.
The forces of the status quo are pulling out all the stops to prevent change from sweeping through Mississippi. Haley Barbour is a shrewd politician who felt the winds of change starting to blow last year when he used a poorly worded law as a loophole to grant Wicker a year of incumbency. In all his foresight, he did not count on one thing. Barack Obama, not Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee. Mississippi has the largest black population by percentage in the United States. An inspired black electorate along with the other traditional Democratic bases and the increased youth interest have combined to create the perfect storm for a Democratic victory in November. To add insult to injury, Haley had to sit back and watch as Travis Childers won the special election for Roger Wicker's vacated congressional seat.
Now facing the prospect of a massive wave of Democratic voters in November, many of them casting their ballot for the first time, Haley has manipulated another law to attempt to move the most important race in Mississippi to the bottom of the ballot. He is counting on the fact that many voters will be there to vote for Obama first and foremost, and any number of them he can weed out helps Roger Wicker's chances. Barbour and Hosemann may have lost the first ruling in the Hinds County Circuit Court, but I will be shocked if our Chamber of Commerce Supreme Court does not side with the Governor.
The latest Cash on Hand figures according to theCenter for Responsive Politics show Roger Wicker with a commanding 4-1 edge at $2,389,242 to $716,180. The special interest money is pouring in for Roger wicker, as the forces of the status quo are digging deep to keep their friend in Washington. Wicker has rasied $1,2 million from PAC's. His three largest donor groups are doctors, corporate lawyers, and the insurance companies.
It is time to dig deep ourselves and give what little we can afford to the Musgrove campaign. It is time to call the Musgrove camoaign and ask them what you can do to help. We are too close to let this oppurtunity be taken from us by a Washington lobbyist who doubles as our Governor and a Supreme Court that was paid for by the Chamber of Commerce.
With all of our help in whatever ways we can, we will win this race. Don't believe the nay-sayers. If the Governor was not worried about the winds of change, he would not be attempting this ballot tomfoolery.
Musgrove for Senate website
Cotton Mouth Blog
